I've got to admit, 85% of time I find Wally annoying. If he's not mooching, treating Ginger like garbage, shirking responsibility or just plain inconveniencing others -he's eating Jack (and everyone else for that matter) out of house and home.

I know shows often find it helpful to have a foil, but if there's one fault with this show (and the only one I can think of), it's the overuse of Wally. I just saw the ep "Rick Is Late For Dinner" and for me its the straw that broke the camel's back. Wally asks Rick to take over for him for "five" minutes. Ha ha. With Wally it's never just a few minutes or a few coins... He pretty much leaves poor Rick stranded at Jack's while Kris has this big dinner waiting. Talk about thoughtless and inconsiderate. I'm almost at the point every time I see Wally in an ep, I want to throw a tomato at him. Anyone else feel this way about Wally?

Another thought: would you have like to see story lines around another fraternity brother besides Wally? If so, which one. I think Charley would have been a good choice. Or Kent.

I never found Wally annoying, except for the laugh at times. He was totally embarassed many times as they showed an outtake of him splitting his pants during a scene, comments about his weight and looks were frequent and he had to stand by as Rick always got the limelight with his singing. That being said, his contributions to the show outweighed his average acting ability more times than not. Was he an emmy award candidate? No, he was merely a somewhat valuable piece of a collection of good supporting actors on the show. In my opinion Don Defore was the most likeable of the cast of supporting actors on the show.

I've always thought that "Wally" was used for a little change-of-pace comedy relief in the shows. Actor Skip Young even had a very small part in the 1958 science fiction motion picture "The Spider" which was at the same time he was being featured in O & H. I can still recall the bit of laughter that came from patrons in the theatre when they realized who it was.

It might be noted that Skip Young was already in his mid-20's when he started playing "Wally" and he continued to do so up to his mid-30's.

I've said it before: Wally was the George Costanza of the 1950's.

I forgot about Wally. These boards are great.

I forgot about Wally. These boards are great.

Please feel free to post more, we need the interplay between posters.

I love Wally. He was harless.

They needed a Wally type who could get into trouble, be a little devious and get the Nelsons in tricky situations. For the image of the show, Dave and Ricky couldn't be written as being anything but perfect so they needed a loveable foil to create those adventures ! In the same way Thorny and moreso Joe worked with Ozzie. I happen to love Joe as well. :)

I love Wally. He was harless.

You mean "harmless"? :lol:

I actually vacillate back and forth in my feelings about Wally. In some episodes such as The Exploding Book he is a schemer and sort of back stabber. In some episodes such as Wally's Traffic Ticket, he is just plain hilarious.

I read somewhere (Ozzie's Biography, maybe?) Ozzie felt that Dave and Rick were a bit "low-key" so he added the Wally character to sort of liven it up, so to speak. But it was stretching it a bit, I think, that Wally started out as David's frat brother, and ended up as Rick's, longest college experience ever!

That being said I have heard Skip and Rick were actually quite good friends. I have some footage from Rick's funeral and there is a brief shot of Skip and he looks absolutely devastated. I think that might have softened my view on the "Wally" character that I might have found more irritating otherwise.

Skip wrote the liner notes for the 1985 Rhino Records Rick Nelson Greatest Hits album (released shortly before Rick's death). From reading that one certainly gets the impression that the two of them were indeed friends. Also, not long before Rick died--maybe around 1983--Rick performed a concert near Apple Valley, CA, where Skip was living at the time, and Skip was the emcee.

That being said I have heard Skip and Rick were actually quite good friends. I have some footage from Rick's funeral and there is a brief shot of Skip and he looks absolutely devastated. I think that might have softened my view on the "Wally" character that I might have found more irritating otherwise.

I've heard that too. Of course what I think of Skip Young, is completely different from the character he played. My impression is that Skip was a very nice man.

Skip wrote the liner notes for the 1985 Rhino Records Rick Nelson Greatest Hits album (released shortly before Rick's death). From reading that one certainly gets the impression that the two of them were indeed friends. Also, not long before Rick died--maybe around 1983--Rick performed a concert near Apple Valley, CA, where Skip was living at the time, and Skip was the emcee.

Very interesting, I didn't know any of that, thanks for the info :)

Very interesting, I didn't know any of that, thanks for the info :)

Also, Skip and Dave got married about the same time and actually spent part of their honeymoons (with their wives, of course) together. It is interesting to me that with all the television shows on after the Adventures ended, that Skip wasn't in more demand as a character actor.

Also, Skip and Dave got married about the same time and actually spent part of their honeymoons (with their wives, of course) together. It is interesting to me that with all the television shows on after the Adventures ended, that Skip wasn't in more demand as a character actor.

I believe I read somewhere that Skip had health problems in the 80s/90s before he passed, and perhaps that prevented him from doing more television work.

I did see Skip in an episode of Growing Pains in the late 80's.
Not only that, but Parley Baer (Darby) was in the episode as well and in the same scene.

The episode is where Mike was going to marry Julie, but she ends up breaking up with him and leaving him a note at the end of the episode.

Skip and Parley are in a scene at a coffee shop. Parley is the behind the counter and Skip is a customer at the counter. They give Mike advice about marriage and relationships. Skip still had the same 'ol laugh! Looked just like himself only older.

I did see Skip in an episode of Growing Pains in the late 80's.
Not only that, but Parley Baer (Darby) was in the episode as well and in the same scene.

The episode is where Mike was going to marry Julie, but she ends up breaking up with him and leaving him a note at the end of the episode.

Skip and Parley are in a scene at a coffee shop. Parley is the behind the counter and Skip is a customer at the counter. They give Mike advice about marriage and relationships. Skip still had the same 'ol laugh! Looked just like himself only older.

It's always nice to hear about actors in a show you like appearing in another context. Thanks for the info. Gonna try to find this G.P. ep someplace.

It's always nice to hear about actors in a show you like appearing in another context. Thanks for the info. Gonna try to find this G.P. ep someplace.

I agree, I love the idea of Skip and Parley together, I'd love to find the episode, as well :)

I actually even heard a reference to Wally Plumbstead on a show before. Totally blew me away.

It was an episode of Perfect Strangers. Larry and Balki were stranded overnight in the woods while on a camping trip with their two girlfriends, Jennifer and cna't think of the other ones name... Well Balki was telling a story about how it reminded him of an episode of somthing.. but he start telling the story but his characters and the shows he's saying the story is from aren't the same, and the others start asking him questions do you mean so and so from this show or so and so from that show.. and it goes on a few rounds..

Anyway, one of the names Balki mentioned was Wally, and Jennifer says, you mean Beavers brothers Wally or Dave and Rick's friend Wally?

I was just totally shocked that there was a little shout out mentioned of Wally.

I actually even heard a reference to Wally Plumbstead on a show before. Totally blew me away.

It was an episode of Perfect Strangers. Larry and Balki were stranded overnight in the woods while on a camping trip with their two girlfriends, Jennifer and cna't think of the other ones name... Well Balki was telling a story about how it reminded him of an episode of somthing.. but he start telling the story but his characters and the shows he's saying the story is from aren't the same, and the others start asking him questions do you mean so and so from this show or so and so from that show.. and it goes on a few rounds..

Anyway, one of the names Balki mentioned was Wally, and Jennifer says, you mean Beavers brothers Wally or Dave and Rick's friend Wally?

I was just totally shocked that there was a little shout out mentioned of Wally.

That does sound like a nice surprise. You occasionally hear references to the show in general but nothing specific like this. But The Adv. of Ozzie and Harriet is fine Americana and IMO the first reality show (w/o the tacky sensationalism). It will be a joy to own the entire series, when it ultimately rolls out. I know Sam is working hard to make that happen.

That does sound like a nice surprise. You occasionally hear references to the show in general but nothing specific like this. But The Adv. of Ozzie and Harriet is fine Americana and IMO the first reality show (w/o the tacky sensationalism). It will be a joy to own the entire series, when it ultimately rolls out. I know Sam is working hard to make that happen.
Ricky was a little wisecracker in the early years of the series, back when he was a crewcut kid with a piercing voice. He seems to have turned introverted about the same time he got into rock 'n' roll. Can someone possibly explain this? But I think that's one reason Wally was put on the show - they needed a joker.

Ricky was a little wisecracker in the early years of the series, back when he was a crewcut kid with a piercing voice. He seems to have turned introverted about the same time he got into rock 'n' roll. Can someone possibly explain this? But I think that's one reason Wally was put on the show - they needed a joker.

Ricky had a lot of talent so part of this was Ozzie and the writers milking it. Not the primary factor but a factor.

I agree as a teenager on, Rick seemed more subdued. But I think the introversion was his real trait. It could also have been, despite his smashing good looks, some angst about meeting girls. A crush on a girl is supposed to be what led to his singing. In any event, I liked the older Rick better because it seemed genuine. The restraint certainly did not obscure his depth as a person, nor his talent. The fact that both Rick and Dave were solid and steady was a big part of their charm.

Yes, having a clown on the show, did help accentuate the contrast. But for me anyways, a little bit of Wally went a long way. Would have liked to see some of the other frat brothers showcased more.

Wally was great! I loved him on the show. No "UN-appreciation" from me.

We absolutely love the Wally episodes. He was hilarious, and added so much the O & H show. When my son was about 6 or 7, (late eighties), he wanted to watch "fat Wally", he just loved the guy, (like we all did). My Dad thought he was goofy, but he made my Mom laugh.

No Un-appreciation here either.

There are at least two episodes where Wally is referred to as 'Wally Dipple'. He is called that in 'Girl at the Emporium', and 'The Exploding Book' has Wally's mother in it, and she is listed in the end credits as 'Mrs Dipple'.

Yes, and they used the name Wally Dipple for another character, a friend of Ozzie's as Wally Dipple's Garage Door.

<----------Look at my avatar. Absolutely no un-appreciation from me!

Even though I found (and still find) Wally annoying - if I had this thread to do over, would have framed it along the lines "do you like or dislike Wally, and why"

Even though I found (and still find) Wally annoying - if I had this thread to do over, would have framed it along the lines "do you like or dislike Wally, and why"
When I was young and watching Ozzie and Harriet in it's initial run, I found Wally irritating. Now, watching the reruns on my DVD, he seems less so. There are so many annoying and abrasive characters on today's shows that they make Wally seem benign and somewhat loveable. By the way, you can see Skip Young in an early episode of One Step Beyond, playing a similar character. That show is streaming on Netflix, the first 22 episodes as seen on Paramount's restored DVD. (Much better quality than the public domain episodes I was used to.)

I just saw Skip Young in an episode of Adam 12. It was a very small part, where I think he was a law clerk or something in the court room.

I've got to admit, 85% of time I find Wally annoying. If he's not mooching, treating Ginger like garbage, shirking responsibility or just plain inconveniencing others -he's eating Jack (and everyone else for that matter) out of house and home.

I know shows often find it helpful to have a foil, but if there's one fault with this show (and the only one I can think of), it's the overuse of Wally. I just saw the ep "Rick Is Late For Dinner" and for me its the straw that broke the camel's back. Wally asks Rick to take over for him for "five" minutes. Ha ha. With Wally it's never just a few minutes or a few coins... He pretty much leaves poor Rick stranded at Jack's while Kris has this big dinner waiting. Talk about thoughtless and inconsiderate. I'm almost at the point every time I see Wally in an ep, I want to throw a tomato at him. Anyone else feel this way about Wally?

Another thought: would you have like to see story lines around another fraternity brother besides Wally? If so, which one. I think Charley would have been a good choice. Or Kent.

Good Ol' Wally is a sponge :lol: I wonder if he's Dave's best friend or Rick's or using either of them to get those free meals from Harriet! Poor Ginger putting up with Wally must be true love I tell ya.

I guess Wally is our average young plump schmuck while everyone else is fit and beautiful.

I actually vacillate back and forth in my feelings about Wally. In some episodes such as The Exploding Book he is a schemer and sort of back stabber. In some episodes such as Wally's Traffic Ticket, he is just plain hilarious.

I read somewhere (Ozzie's Biography, maybe?) Ozzie felt that Dave and Rick were a bit "low-key" so he added the Wally character to sort of liven it up, so to speak. But it was stretching it a bit, I think, that Wally started out as David's frat brother, and ended up as Rick's, longest college experience ever!

That being said I have heard Skip and Rick were actually quite good friends. I have some footage from Rick's funeral and there is a brief shot of Skip and he looks absolutely devastated. I think that might have softened my view on the "Wally" character that I might have found more irritating otherwise.

WOW I'm reading all these old posts and didn't realize that Skip Young was close to the Nelson boys. I assumed he was just there to speak his lines and grab that paycheck. Looking at him on the show I'm reminded of Louie Anderson, the comedian...go figure lol.

I know another O&H co-star Kent McCord of Adam-12 fame was a good friend of Rick but I'm not too sure of James Stacy (who played Fred).